Symptoms of Boils

A boil starts as a hard, red, painful lump usually less than an inch in size. Over the next few days, the lump becomes softer, larger, and more painful. Soon a pocket of pus forms on the top of the boil. Signs of a severe infection are

• the skin around the boil becomes red, painful and swollen;

• more boils may appear around the original one;

• a fever develops; and

• the lymph nodes become swollen.